Ophidiidae, Rafinesque, 1810

Ebersole, Jun A., Cicimurri, David J. & Stringer, Gary L., 2019, Taxonomy and biostratigraphy of the elasmobranchs and bony fishes (Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes) of the lower-to-middle Eocene (Ypresian to Bartonian) Claiborne Group in Alabama, USA, including an analysis of otoliths, European Journal of Taxonomy 585, pp. 1-274 : 203

Ophidiidae indet.

Material examined

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – Alabama • 11 otoliths; GLS otolith comparative collection (10 specimens), MSC 39042.12 .

Description

Several characteristics point to the family Ophidiidae for these specimens. These features include the sulcus, ostium, cauda, and general shape. Unfortunately, the preservation of the specimens prohibits any further, more specific identification.

Remarks

These specimens could belong to an ophidiid species already described from the Claiborne Group of Alabama or could represent a different species. Preservation does not allow this determination.

Stratigraphic and geographic range in Alabama

All of the specimens of Ophidiidae indet. were derived from the “upper” Lisbon Formation at site ACh- 7 except for one specimen (MSC 39042.12) which was collected from the Gosport Sand at site AMo-4. Bartonian, zones NP16 and NP17.